Chase was prelude to tragic outcome

Rozell Whitehead, 53, was hit and killed by a motorist on Henry Johnson Blvd.

The Bethlehem teen who allegedly killed an Arbor Hill man in a hit-and-run Saturday was being chased by a trooper for speeding on Interstate 90 just before the collision and had been issued three speeding tickets and involved in two accidents in the past year, according to State Police and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Bethlehem police also confirmed that shortly after the accident around 7:30 p.m., the teen drove to their station by himself. A department spokesman, however, would not say what happened once the man arrived.

Authorities have not yet publicly identified the driver, but the young man’s father confirmed to the Times Union that he is Ian Eckardt-Rigberg, 19, of Bethlehem.

In a brief statement, State Police said the vehicle involved in the collision was spotted speeding east on I-90 at 75 mph in a 55 mph zone “just prior to the incident.”

A trooper chased the car until he spotted it leaving the highway at Exit 6, deeming it too far ahead to safely pursue, State Police said.

Moments later, according to city police, Eckardt-Rigberg’s car struck 53-year-old Rozell Whitehead as the man crossed Henry Johnson Boulevard, then fled the scene as Whitehead lay mortally wounded in the road.

In December, Eckart-Rigberg driver’s license was revoked after he was issued three speeding tickets in a six-month span, according to Nick Cantiello, a DMV spokesman.

Eckart-Rigberg was ticketed twice for driving 60 mph in 55 mph zones, in Albany and Guilderland, and for going 41 mph in a 30 mph zone in Albany as well, Cantiello said.

In 2011, Eckart-Rigberg was involved in two property damage accidents, in November in Albany County and February in Rensselaer County, Cantiello said. Eckart-Rigberg was also involved in an accident in Franklin County in 2010.

Eckart-Rigberg’s restricted license permitted him to drive only to and from work, school or medical appointments. Eckart-Rigberg’s father said his son had recently dropped out of school and had started delivering papers for the Times Union. It’s unclear where Eckart-Rigberg was driving to Saturday night when troopers began chasing him.

As of Monday afternoon, police had not pressed charges in the case. Officer James Miller said that whoever was driving the vehicle that killed Whitehead would, at the very least, likely be charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a felony in a case where the victim dies.

Miller said police have discussed the case with the district attorney’s office and criminal and accident investigations are ongoing.